Coitvertible building



F. J. KEPF'LER CONVERTIBLE BUILDING Febi y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 22 1920 Feb, 26, 1924; 1,485,035

7 F J. KEPPLER CONVERT IBLE BUILDING F iled May 22 1920 2 Sheets-Shea; 2

I v I 2/ I W WWII I I I ll v m Patented Feb. 26,1924.

' .UNITED'STATES 1,485,035 PATENTOFFICE.

FRED T. KEPPLER, O F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

CONVERTIBLE BUILDING.

Application fi1e 1 May 22,1920. Serial in). 383,418.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I,,FRED J. KEPPLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, inthe county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Convertible Buildings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a convertible building of the general type shown in my copending application No. 302,569, filed June 7 ,.1919, and the object of the present invention is to provide improved means for removably mounting posts between-the floor and ceiling of a building and also detachably connecting portablewalls or partitions with said posts, so that the space within the building maybe readily subdivided into compartments of various forms, sizes and numbers as occasion may require.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 'is a fragmentary sectionalelevation of a building equipped with my improvements; Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation, showing a coupling head connecting a post, and partitions with a ceiling in accordance with my invention. Figures 3, 4 and'5 are horizontal sections taken on thecorrespondingly numbered lines in Fig. 2. Figures 6 and 7 are vertical'sections taken on line 6-6. and 7--7, respectively, in'Fig. 2. Figures 8'and'9 are perspective views of parts of the devices whereby the partition is slidrelative to each other, so that the space between the same may be sub-divided as desired by means of my invention. The means whereby this space is sub-divided consists generally of a pluralityofvupright junction member's, posts, columns vor standards 12, couplings 18 interposed between the ends of each post. and the ceiling and floor and partitions 14 engaging their upper and lower horizontal edges with the ceiling and floor and connectedat their vertical edges with the posts'while the corners are connected j with said couplings; 7

Each of the posts 12 has its body preferably constructed of wood. which is square in cross section and has its upper and lower ends reduced and provided with metal caps 40. Between the upper and lower ends of the post arearranged couplings whereby the post is removably secured to the support formed by the ceiling and floor, and the partitions are also supported relatively to the posts, ceiling and fioor. The couplings at opposite ends of each post are substantially alike and the following description of one will therefore apply to both.

Each of these couplings comprises a hollowv body or frame having a horizontal plate 41 adapted to engage either the ceiling or the floor, a socket 15 on the central part of said body and a plurality ofhollow radial arms 16, the latter being preferably four in numher and arranged equidistant around said socket. The bodies of the couplings for the ceiling are preferably secured permanently to the latter by means of screws 17 but the bodies of the couplings for the floor preferablyarest thereon by gravity and are also frictionally engaged therewith so that the same may be entirely removed when not required and thus leave the floor clear of 0bstruction and without any mutilation. The

reduced cap at one end of each post is adapted to be alined with the socket of one of the coupling bodies andto be detachably connected therewith b a clamping device which in its preferre form consists'of a follower '18 having an external screw thread engaging with an internal thread in the socket 15'and adapted to hear at its outer end against the adjacent end of the post for holding these parts in position relatively to I each other. The turning of the follower for engaging or disengaging the same with the post is preferably effected by providing the outer end of the peripheral portion of the follower with an annular row of openings 19 which may be engaged one after another by a tool or pin which is passed through a slot 2O in the side of the socket and then moved one way. or another, for turning the follower in the desired direction for tightenv in%or loosening the same on the post.

ach of the partitions, walls or panels 1e is providedcat its corners with a recess 21 which in the assembled position of the parts receives'an arm on onev of the coupling are constructed as follows:

22 represents a plurality of clamping levers one of which is pivoted to swing vertically within each arm of the coupling body by means of a pivot bolt 23 passing through this lever and a pair of lugs 24: projecting from the inner side of the plate 14 of the coupling body. At its outer end the clamping lever is connected with the rear side of a retaining ball or spherical catch 25 which latter is arranged to move vertically in av guide pocket 26 inthe outer end of the respective arm of the coupling body and normally projects with its spherical front side beyond the front side of the body arm. The retaining catch 25 is preferably pivotally connected with this lever by a bolt 27 passin through this lever and a pair of lugs 28 on the rear side of the catch, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. Each of the clamping levers is turned yieldingly in the direc ion for moving the retaining catch beyond the front side of the coupling body by means which preferably comprise a guide pocket 29'arranged on the central art of the coupling body in line, with the inner arm of the respective clamping lever, a follower 8O bearing against the, innerside of this lever and guided in said pocket, and a springBl arranged. in said pocket and engaging one end i with the bottom thereof while its opposite end bearsfagainst said follower. In the horizontal edge portion of each of the recesses on the partition the same is provided with aseat 32 preferably of spherical form which is adaptedto receive the sphereical face ofone of the catches or retaining members, this seat being formed in ametal cap 33,secured to the upper edge ofthe partition by means of screws 34: or otherwise. On its. opposite lateral sides this cap is provided with two inclined trough-shaped guides 35 which lead up to opposite sides of the seat 32 and serve to 'direct' they catch 25 into this seat when assembling the parts.

In the operation of dividing the space between the ceiling and floor into compartments, a couplingtbod is first placed on the floor in line witheach of the coupling bodies ,which is secured to the ceiling and between which and the respectivefloor coupling body a post is to. be erected. A post is now placed vertically: infiline with the .socketsxof-ra pairof ceiling andfioorcoupling bodies and then the followers 18 in the sockets thereof are turned until they bear firmly against opposite ends of the post and hold the same securely in place. A partition is now placed in an upright position and moved laterally so that the trough guides 35- on one side thereof engage the catches of the respective coupling bodies and deflect the same until the partition spans the space between a pair of posts at which time the catches will engage the respective seats of the partition and hold the same in place. To prevent disengagement ofthe catches from these seats by a lateral pressure against the partition, means are provided for locking the catches in engagement with their seats which means preferably consist of locking pins 36 screwed into opposite sides of each catch and each pass ing through a slot 87 formed partly in the lower edge of the coupling bod and partly in the upper side of the cap 33 in which the catch seat is formed. By this means a party occupying a room on one side of a partition cannot unfasten the partition and gain access to the room on the opposite side of the partition, thereby preventing intrusion and ensuring privacy and safety of the occupants of the respective rooms.

"Obviously, one or more partitions may be associated with each post and the respective couplings depending upon the manner which it is desired to divided the space. Inasmuch as the couplings are all alike in construction and operation, the same are capable of universal use regardless of whether the same are appliedto the ceiling or the floor and also regardless of whether only one or a plurality of partitions are associated with the same and the companion post.

Furthermore, this construction is very simple and-easily operable which renders it easy to either put up the partitions or take them down, as desired.

Moreover, this construction permits of readily opening up the entire space between the ceiling and'fioor whenthe same is desired for dancingor other purposes and as quickly subdivided into separate rooms, thus rendering the same particularly suitable for camping or outdoor life.

The mechanism within each supporting body is preferably concealed fromviewby securing a cover 60 over the front or outer side of the body by means of screws 62, or otherwise, said cover being provided with hand holes 61 through which the levers 22 may be grasped and operated-in the event that the same become stuck.-

" In the modified construction of my invention shown in Figs. 10-and 11, each spherical catch 25 isimountedon-the outer endofa leve1z50-whichis pivoted at its inner end by'a pin 42 on a lug 43- formed on the adjacent partlof the hub. 15. of; the supportmg body and this catch is yieldingly held in engagement with a socket 44 on the partition 14 by a spring 45 which in this case has the form of'a leaf and is interposed between the upper side of the lever and the base plate 41.

I claim as my invention: I

l. A convertible building having a support, a couplingbody mounted on said support, a partition, and means for detachably connecting said partition and support comprising a catch member and a seat member adapted to receive said catch member, one of said members being mounted on the coupling body and theother being mounted on the partition. i

2. A convertible building having a support, a coupling body mounted on said support a partition and means for detachably connecting said partition and support comprising a seat arranged on the partition, a lever pivoted on the coupling body, and having a catch adapted to engage said seat, and a spring for 'yieldinglyholding said catch in its operative position.

3. A convertible building having a support, a coupling body mounted on said support a partition and means for detachably connecting said partition and support comprising a seat arranged on the partition, a lever pivoted on the coupling body and having an outer arm and an inner arm, a catch arranged on the outer arm and adapted to engage said seat, and a spring operating on the inner arm for holding the lever in its operative position.

4. A convertible building having a support, a coupling body mounted on said support, a partition, and means for detachably connecting said partition and support comprising a seat arranged onthe partition, a

1 lever pivoted on the coupling body and having an outer arm and an inner arm, a catch arranged on the outer arm and adapted to engage said seat, a guide pocket arranged on the body in line with, said inner arm a follower arranged in said pocket and engaging said lever, and a spring arranged in said pocket between said follower and the bottom of said pocket.

5. A convertible building having a support. a coupling body mounted on said support, a partition and means for detachably connecting said partition and support comprising a spherical seat arranged on the partition, a spherical catch mounted on the body engagin with said seat, and a guide pocket on said body for said catch.

6. Aconvertible building having a support, a coupling body mounted on said support, a partition, and means for detachably connecting said partition and support comprising a'catch member and a seat member adapted to receive said catch member, one

of said members being mounted on the coupling body and the other being mounted on the partition, and a guide on said partition for said catch and leading to'said seat.

7. A convertible building having a support, a coupling body mounted on said support, a partition and means for detachably connecting said partition and support com prising a spherical seat arranged on the partition, a spherical catch mounted on the body engaging with said seat, and two guides arranged on opposite sides of said partition and leading to said seat to direct said seat in position to be engaged by the catch.

8. A convertible building having a support, a coupling body mounted on said support, a partition and means for detachably connecting said partition and support, comprising a catch member and a seat member adapted to receive said catch member, one of said members being mounted on the coupling body and the other being mounted on the partition, and means for locking said catch in engagement with said seat.

9. A convertible building having a sup port, a coupling body mounted on said support, a partition and means for detachably connecting said partition and support comprising a spherical seat arranged on the partition, a spherical catch mounted on the body engaging with said seat, and locking pins detachably connected with said catch on opposite sides of said partition and adapted to engage with said body for retaining the catch in engagement with said seat.

10. A convertible building having a support, a coupling body mounted on said support, a partition and means for detachably connecting said partition and support comprising a spherical seat arranged on the partition, a spherical catch mounted on the body engaging with said seat, and locking pins detachably connected with said catch on opposite sides of said partition, said body FRED J. KEPPLER. 

